title: Cesarean delivery for abnormal labor.
abstract: Cesarean delivery is indicated at any stage in the labor process in the presence of nonreassuring fetal status or when conservative measures fail in the setting of abnormal labor. In the absence of maternal or fetal indications for expedited delivery, cesarean delivery is not indicated for latent phase disorders. When to intervene for protracted labor is arguable, but slow rates of labor progress are consistent with safe vaginal delivery. Cesarean delivery in the second stage should be avoided for at least 4 hours if there is progressive fetal descent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th Street South, Old Hillman Building Room 446, Birmingham, AL 35249-7333, USA. mmancuso@uab.edu
authors.forename: Melissa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Dwight J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rouse
mesh_terms: D052178:Cephalopelvic Disproportion; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004420:Dystocia / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000601:surgery; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy